Case study:Houston hires tele-nurses to boost 911 dispatch

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Far too often, 911 operators are forced to dispatch ambulance crews who later find out that their services weren't really needed. Now, in an effort to cut down on such wasted calls, the Houston City Council has voted to hire tele-nurses to work with dispatchers. A minimum of two nurses will work around the clock, helping dispatchers give first-aid advice and suggestions on how to find a doctor for callers not experiencing true medical emergencies.

Over the next five years, the city will pay the non-profit Harris County Healthcare Alliance $6.8 million to find the nurses, who will be hired through subcontractor CareNet of San Antonio. The two entities will carry liability insurance offering protection of up to $3 million per claim to cover the exposure in assisting the 911 line.

Houston officials expect the program to save money as well as reducing the strain on local emergency departments. Right now, one 2006 study estimated that the city spends $50 million annually responding to non-emergency 911 calls.

To find out more about the program:
- read this Texas Healthflash item

VA, DC begin routing stroke patients to centers

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:59:54 -0400

In some states, ambulance crews who suspect that a patient is having a stroke are required to take the patient to a designated stroke center hospital (unless the closest is too far away). This happened first in Massachusetts, where officials came to realize that most hospitals were having trouble getting on-call specialists in place to treat stroke victims. The state created a stroke care system in 2004. Now, it looks like Virginia and the District of Columbia are moving this direction, too. In Virginia, Gov. Tim Kaine (D) already has signed a bill requiring ambulance crews to take stroke patients to Joint Commission-certified primary stroke centers. Meanwhile, DC's Fire and Emergency Medical Services soon will issue a rule requiring that District crews do the same.

To learn more about stroke transport in these states:
- read this Washington Post article (reg. req.)

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Ambulance Crews

Case study:Houston hires tele-nurses to boost 911 dispatch

VA, DC begin routing stroke patients to centers